Gowdy: Holder Wants to be 'Criminologist, Sociologist, Philosopher'

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has "the greatest job in the world," says Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C. It's a shame, Gowdy says, that Holder doesn't enjoy it more.

Holder "wants to be a criminologist, a sociologist, a philosopher," Gowdy said in reference to Holder's announcement that he would stop mandatory minimum sentencing for low-level drug offenders. Holder said he was ordering federal prosecutors to not say what amount of drugs a person had when charging them so a judge would not be ordered to follow sentencing rules.

Gowdy, appearing on "Lou Dobbs Tonight" on Fox Business Network, was suspicious of Holder for just now giving the order.

"We've had mandatory minimums for a quarter of a century," Gowdy said. "And yet he waits five years into his tenure as attorney general to decide he doesn't like them anymore?"

Most people serving drug sentences are serving state sentences, Gowdy said, so Holder's order will have little effect. Still, he added, there are proper ways to make changes without ignoring the law.

Holder could advocate for changes in the law or he could simply stop prosecuting low-level cases. State courts have the authority to take over that job, he said.

"Let the states do it. It's an easy fix," Gowdy said.

Instead, Holder has chosen to continue prosecuting the cases, but ignore the law on mandatory minimums, Gowdy said.